BBC SPORT | Rugby League | Challenge Cup | Challenge Cup final as it happened Challenge Cup final as it happened By Mark Orlovac Latest updates (all times BST): 80 mins: FULL-TIME Huddersfield 12-42 St Helens Saints are in possession and they are content to wind the clock down. The hooter goes and St Helens celebrate their first trophy under coach Daniel Anderson. Sean Long is awarded the Lance Todd trophy and is the first player to win the Challenge Cup man of the match three times. 79 mins: Paul tries to create a try as Giants aim to finish with a flourish, however, his kick is well covered by the Saints defence. 76 mins: A smothering tackle on his own line from Cayless prevents Huddersfield scoring. 73 mins: TRY Huddersfield 12-42 St Helens Saints are looking dangerous again and Long's grubber into the in-goal area causes chaos in the Giants defence. Prop Jason Cayless, looking as battered and bruised as Wilkin, barges his way through to touch down and after consultation with the video ref - the try is given. Lyon adds another two points.

70 mins: TRY Huddersfield 12-36 St Helens The Giants are battling bravely despite their predicament. Drew decides to kick early and places a deft kick over the top to get Robbie Paul on the scoresheet. De Vere kicks the goal. 67 mins: TRY Huddersfield 6-36 St Helens Cunningham shows electric pace from a play-the-ball to leave the Giants defence trailing. He gives the ball to Wilkin, who has the simple task of claiming his second try. Lyon kicks his sixth goal from in front of the posts. 63 mins: Huddersfield make a rare foray forward but the ball is lost by Steve Snitch. The Giants look like a beaten team now and Saints have had 60% of the second-half possession. 57 mins: TRY Huddersfield 6-30 St Helens Long's dummy puts him through and his sublime kick to the corner is a gift for Lyon, who dives, catches and scores in one movement. The Saints centre, who has now scored in every round of this year's Challenge Cup, dusts himself down to fire the conversion over from the touchline.

"Huddersfield have to change their game plan now. The Saints defence is controlling them and they are not getting the yards they did in the first half." Jonathan Davies 51 mins: TRY Huddersfield 6-24 St Helens It is surely all over for Huddersfield now. Roby's grubber kick from 10m out is perfectly weighted and Fa'asavalu touches down. Lyon adds the extras. 48 mins: Huddersfield try to get out from under their posts after a Gardner attack breaks down. Giants winger Stuart Donlan is flattened by a high tackle from Wilkin, who is now covered in blood. Despite the boos from the crowd, Wilkin is not dismissed but is placed on report. 44 mins: TRY Huddersfield 6-18 St Helens Maurie Fa'asavalu smashes his way through the Giants defence. He offloads to James Roby who is brought down by Chris Nero but there are just too many numbers and Jon Wilkin, who has a strapped up nose after an earlier collision, dives over to put his side in control. Lyon collects his third conversion. 42 mins: Saints threaten early on.

Pryce produces a superb offload to set up Long, who tries the same but the ball goes forward. 41 mins: St Helens get the second half started. 1543: Huddersfield are the first ones out while St Helens take their time in taking the field. "Now St Helens are in a bit of rhythm. They have withstood the best Huddersfield have thrown at them and if they get enough possession in the second half, one on one they could be too strong and skilful. They could run away with it in the second half." Ian Millward "For a quarter of the half Huddersfield were on top with their kicking game and their kick chase but St Helens were patient and brought the ball back a lot further on each of the kicks. "Now it is about belief, Huddersfield can still score points. To win now they will have to be a little different than they were in the first half." Brian Noble 40 mins: HALF-TIME Huddersfield 6-12 St Helens With Twickenham bathed in late August sunshine, the hooter goes and the teams go off for half-time.

36 mins: TRY Huddersfield 6-12 St Helens Centre Lyon jinks and twists to create a break when there does not seem a lot on. Gardner is in support and he waits to give a perfectly timed inside ball to Long who has enough gas to score. Lyon kicks the goal. 34 mins: Pryce breaks through the defence to set up an ominous Saints attack. It looks promising but Long drops the ball just five metres out. Possession is now 57% in St Helens' favour. 29 mins: O'Reilly is the Huddersfield hero when he produces a wonderful covering tackle on Ade Gardner who seems odds on to score after a stunning break down the wing. 28 mins: A precision kick into the in-goal area forces Wellens to play the ball and run it back into play. He has to take a little breather though as he is on the wrong end of another big hit. 27 mins: Cunningham is fortunate to escape punishment after what seems a high shot on Giants full-back Paul O'Reilly. 23 mins: Painful moments for Saints loose forward Jason Hooper after he is flattened by a forceful double hit.

It does not help that one of the tacklers is none other than Eorl Crabtree - nephew of wrestling legend Big Daddy. Uncle would have been proud. 21 mins: TRY Huddersfield 6-6 St Helens St Helens attack again, helped by some go-forward from their pack. Paul Sculthorpe's grubber kick bounces off Drew's leg right into the arms of Willie Talau who has no problems in scoring. Jamie Lyon adds the conversion. "When the break is there from Saints, it is all a bit flat. There is no support." BBC Sport summariser Jonathan Davies. 18 mins: St Helens scrum-half Sean Long kicks over the Huddersfield defence as his side press forward. However, as Saints try to claim the ball just inches from the Giants line, it is knocked on. 16 mins: Huddersfield's impressive start is signalled by a television graphic which shows that they have had 55% of possession and territory.

14 mins: Huddersfield loose forward Stephen Wild rips the ball off Francis Meli in the tackle but the Giants do not get possession as referee Richard Silverwood, following discussion with his touch judge, rules that the tackle had been completed. 13 mins: The game is settling down after that electric opening. St Helens are just content at the moment to get back into the match by completing their sets of six. 6 mins: TRY Huddersfield 6-0 St Helens Acting dummy-half Brad Drew is given acres of space at a play-the-ball on the 40m line. He storms through the Saints line and the ball makes its way to wing Martin Aspinwall who dives over in the corner for the opening try. Michael De Vere adds the goal. What a start. 3 mins: Saints just can't get out of their own half. Giants skipper Chris Thorman dabs a cheeky grubber kick into the in-goal area but Paul Wellens clears up well. 2 mins: The Giants are up for this. Kieron Cunningham tries to get out from under his posts but he is set upon by a swarm of Huddersfield shirts and is dumped in goal.

1 min: Huddersfield start the game and immediately there is a mistake by Saints. The ball is not collected by Leon Pryce and it bounces off his leg into Giants' hands, who immediately threaten the St Helens line. 1443: League legend Martin Offiah is introduced to both teams and as the firework smoke starts to clear, the national anthem is belted out. Everything is ready and kick-off is now upon us. 1439: The teams are led out and are met by a firework display, loud music and a rapturous reception from the crowd. "I think Saints will win but by a close margin. But if it is close at half-time then I'll go for Huddersfield - so that's sitting on the fence for you." Brian Noble "Saints have a great side and you would be nuts not to think they will win but I'm going to be like Brian and see where we are at half-time." Ian Millward 1436: As the two teams appear in the Twickenham tunnel, the strains of Challenge Cup final anthem "Abide With Me" ring around the stadium. 1431: "Huddersfield have to start well.

If they are close after 20 minutes then they have a real chance." Wigan and Great Britain coach Brian Noble 1429: The crowd, boasting shirts and flags from all around Super League, are enjoying the pre-match entertainment - which at the moment is coming from the London Community Gospel Choir. 1426:"Preparation is vital, it is all about what you do during the week. You want to build up and not play the game before you get there." Former St Helens coach Ian Millward 1423: The green seats of Twickenham are slowly filling up as kick-off approaches. It is dry in south west London at the moment but a little cloudy - in short, perfect rugby league weather. Huddersfield are looking to score a massive upset against Super League leaders St Helens in the Challenge Cup final at Twickenham. The Giants, in their first Cup final for 44 years, are without prop Keith Mason, but skipper Chris Thorman has been passed fit after recovering from a hamstring injury. St Helens, who last won the competition in 2004, are looking to get their hands on the trophy for the fifth time in 11 years.

Daniel Anderson has a full-strength squad to choose from and has been able to leave out such big names as Nick Fozzard and Vinnie Anderson. Scrum-half Sean Long, who was part of the Saints team that beat Bradford in the last final at Twickenham in 2001, is chasing a record-breaking third Lance Toddy Trophy award, given to the man of the match. Legendary BBC commentator Ray French, a winner of the Challenge Cup with St Helens, is commentating on his 25th successive final. Live coverage on BBC One, Radio Five Live and this website Huddersfield: Reilly, Aspinwall, Nero, De Vere, Donlan, Thorman, Paul, Jackson, Drew, Gannon, Crabtree, Raleigh, Wild. Replacements: Snitch, Jones, Smith, McDonald. St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Lyon, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, P Anderson, Cunningham, Cayless, Wilkin, Sculthorpe, Hooper. Replacements: Gilmour, Roby, Graham, Fa'asavalu. Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury).

BBC SPORT | Rugby League | From Lance to Long Printable version From Lance to Long Sean Long rewrote the record books in 2006 by becoming the first player to win the Lance Todd Trophy three times with his man-of-the-match display in the Challenge Cup final win over Huddersfield. Now, as his St Helens side prepares to face Catalans Dragons in the 2007 final at Wembley this Saturday, he talks to BBC Sport about his chances of winning it again. What would it mean to win the Lance Todd again? SL: It would be brilliant to win it four times. I'm pretty happy with winning it three times, but while I've got the chance to do it and while I'm part of a really good team, why not? Why are you able to shine on the big occasion? SL: It's not that I just go out there to play well in big games. I try my best in all games. I'm involved in such a great team - and I have over the last 10 years at St Helens - I just can't say it's all me. I've got some great players working round me, and they help me all the way.

What are your memories of the first occasion you won it, in the 2001 final win over Bradford at Twickenham? SL: Ian Millward told me to just relax before the game so me and Kieron (Cunningham) were just having a laugh. It was a pretty good game early doors. The weather was fine and I put a couple of kicks in, one in for Tommy (Martyn) and one in for Kieron. They both scored off the kicks. I kicked both the goals that time as well, so I was pretty made up. At half-time it lashed it down. All I remember then was Ian Millward saying to me just kick the ball and make them come off the line and they'll find it hard to go 100 metres and score in these conditions. That was the game-plan. We stuck to it. The last thing on my mind at the time was the Lance Todd Trophy. I was just happy to know that with 10 minutes left we'd kind of won the game. When they announced I'd won it I didn't get a clear hearing of it. Then one of the lads came and patted me on the back and said 'well done'.

I was made up. What about the second time you received it, after the victory over Wigan at Cardiff in 2004? SL: To play the old enemy, Wigan, in a Challenge Cup final - it doesn't get much bigger than that. There's no better feeling when you are in a tough match knowing, with 20 minutes left, they've got to score three times to win. It was a decent game. I thought Willie Talau and Paul Wellens had great games, but I just did enough to get the Lance Todd again. That was one of the best games I've been involved with. And what was last year's experience like, when you were awarded the trophy by Martin Offiah, who won it twice himself, following the defeat of Huddersfield? SL: Jon Wilkin pushed me all the way on that one. I thought he had a great game. Jamie Lyon had an outstanding match as well. I did a kick to the corner and Jamie chased it and scored. Without his chase and help from my team-mates that would have just been an ordinary kick and probably would have gone into touch.

I'm part of a great team and I've got credit to all the boys who have helped me win these trophies. Sean Long was talking to Radio 5live's Stuart Pyke WHO WAS LANCE TODD? A member of the inaugural New Zealand touring team in 1907, Lance Todd appeared in all three Tests against the then Northern Union before signing for Wigan on 15 February, 1908. A centre, he proved to be a great acquisition for the English club, playing an inspirational role for the next six years. He eventually joined Dewsbury in the January of 1914 for more than ï¿½400, a huge fee at that time. Then, following retirement and a spell out of the game, he returned to rugby league in 1928 as manager of Salford. Under his guidance, the club became the dominant force of the 1930s - and that was in no small measure to his ability for spotting talent.

TROPHY FACTFILE Rugby league: Challenge Cup final: Huddersfield 12 - 42 St Helens Huddersfield 12 - 42 St Helens<p>After romping to the second highest points total in 112 Challenge Cup finals, St Helens made an even more emphatic statement of intent. "We want to showcase the talents of this team, and the best way to do that is in the big games," said their coach Daniel Anderson, confirming that within an hour of the final hooter his players were already reinforcing their determination to add victory in the Super League grand final in October.</p><p>Saints know they have the potential to be remembered as one of the best and most dominant teams of the Super League era. No one at Knowsley Road doubts that they are a far more formidable unit than the previous St Helens side to do the double a decade ago.

But to match the achievements of Brian Noble's Bradford Bulls in 2003 they need to win both at Old Trafford, and in the World Club Challenge to be played in Australia next February.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Huddersfield 12 - 42 St Helens Huddersfield 12 - 42 St Helens<p>St Helens fulfilled all the pre-match predictions by lifting the Challenge Cup by a comfortable margin. But the scoreline hides a ferocious first half in which Huddersfield all but matched their star-studded opponents.</p><p>The Giants clearly rattled the Saints, but they had put in so much effort that they began to wilt in the second half and the runaway Super League leaders turned on the style to blow them away.

Sean Long, the St Helens scrum-half, who became the first player to win the Lance Todd Trophy for man-of-the-match in the final three times, produced another magnificent performance, his kicking constantly forcing the Giants back and giving his huge pack a great platform to show their power and skill.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Huddersfield chairman reaps rewards for giant step Chairman is relishing this month's Challenge Cup final having overseen club's return from financial abyss<p>Huddersfield Giants' chairman Ken Davy rescued the club from near extinction in 1996 and Sunday's memorable Challenge Cup semi-final victory over the overwhelming favourites Leeds Rhinos, a return to glory for one of the sport's most famous names, provided some return for his considerable investment.</p><p>Having also saved Huddersfield Town from administration three years ago, Davy, 65, is a sporting icon in the West Yorkshire town.

For a man with virtually no interest in sport for the majority of his life, a first Challenge Cup final appearance in 44 years is a situation he would never have predicted.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Nero helps Huddersfield through Huddersfield 30 - 12 Leeds<p>More than a century after Huddersfield's George Hotel staged the Northern Union breakaway from Twickenham, the town's Super League team will play at the stadium next month after securing a first Challenge Cup final appearance for 44 years with a superbly conceived and executed triumph over Leeds.</p><p>It sets up a repeat of the last time they won the cup, with a 15-10 win against St Helens in 1953, and although they will be the least-fancied finalists for more than seven years given the form of the current Saints team, this performance demanded the right for them to be taken seriously.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Saints spark fight for final places St Helens 50 - 0 Hull Kingston Rovers<p>Paul Sculthorpe must have had mixed feelings

 as he watched St Helens squeeze any romance out of Hull Kingston Rovers' semi-final appearance with the most emphatic win at this stage of the competition since Bradford, known as Northern, were humiliated 71-10 by Wigan in 1992.</p><p>The Saints and Great Britain captain hopes to start his comeback this week from the knee injury he sustained leading his country against New Zealand on June 27.

But he will have only three Super League games, starting with Friday's visit of Huddersfield, to persuade his coach Daniel Anderson to select him for the cup final at Twickenham on August 26.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: St Helens 50 - 0 Hull KR <p>Super League leaders St Helens demolished their National League One counterparts with a ruthless display of rugby to reach the Challenge Cup final. In last year's semi-final, the Saints were sensationally beaten by the other team from Hull, but there was to be no repeat this time as they ran in nine tries during a formidable performance of power, pace and skill.</p><p>Daniel Anderson, who has made his first final as the St Helens coach, admitted that the loss 12 months ago was a motivating factor. 'We spoke about it before the game,' he said.

'Last year does stick in your throat, you don't dwell on it but I've got to admit that I've been in that away dressing room a number of times now and come up on the wrong side of the ledger so I've come up on the good side for once.'</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Anderson to call tune in family affair <p>Two families from the western Sydney suburb of Parramatta will be divided in the first of the weekend's Powergen Challenge Cup semi-finals at Huddersfield today.

Hunter Anderson, the brother of the St Helens coach Daniel, is married to Nicole Morgan, the sister of the Hull Kingston Rovers coach Justin, and the complicated connections do not end there.</p><p>Anderson (Daniel) was Morgan's coach for a Sydney Catholic schools' representative team, then in reserve grade at Parramatta, and finally in Auckland with the New Zealand Warriors, before Morgan took a player-coach job with Toulouse, which led to a creditable defeat by Leeds in last year's cup semi-finals, before he moved on to Hull KR.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Huddersfield's Paul is leading man <p>It has been 44 years since Huddersfield, the birthplace of the Northern Union, appeared in a Challenge Cup final.

But unlike the team who were thrashed 46-6 by St Helens in a 2004 semi-final, the Giants face Leeds tomorrow with the confidence that comes from Robbie Paul's unusual combination of experience and star quality.</p><p>Paul played in five cup finals for Bradford, scoring an historic Wembley hat-trick to win the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match in his first against St Helens in 1996. But the last award won by the engaging 30-year-old New Zealander came from the Royal Television Society.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Lyon escapes ban for cup semi-final <p>Jamie Lyon has been cleared to play for St Helens in Saturday's Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull Kingston Rovers after escaping suspension for his dismissal in last Saturday's Super League victory at Leeds.

Despite finding the Australian centre guilty of a late challenge on the Leeds scrum-half Rob Burrow, the Rugby Football League's disciplinary committee ruled that being sent off was sufficient punishment for Super League's reigning Man of Steel.</p><p>"He's never even been given a yellow card in his entire career but now he will carry the stigma of having been sent off for the rest of his career and that's a fairly substantial stigma," said the St Helens coach Daniel Anderson. "What he didwas out of character for a genuinely honest and clean player, just a dumb play."</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Cup semi-finals pit Hull KR against favourites St Helens <p>Hull Kingston Rovers, the first National League team to reach the Challenge Cup semi-finals for a decade, were given the toughest possible draw against the odds-on favourites St Helens yesterday, but their Australian coach Justin Morgan welcomed the chance to pit his wits against his former mentor. </p><p>Morgan played under the Saints coach Daniel Anderson as a teenager for the Metropolitan Catholic Schools XIII, and later for Parramatta and the New Zealand Warriors. "It's a tough draw but I think it's a great draw," said Morgan.

Huddersfield's Jon Sharp also faces a former boss, Tony Smith, after the Giants were paired with Leeds. The games will be played on July 29-30.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Hull KR 40 - 36 Warrington Hull KR 40 - 36 Warrington<p>A hat-trick of tries by the Cook Islands winger Byron Ford and a massive performance by pocket-sized scrum-half James Webster helped Hull Kingston Rovers become the first National League side to reach the Challenge Cup semi-finals in a decade here yesterday - that, and the battling team spirit that twice enabled the Rovers to claw back a 10-point deficit.</p><p>Warrington, currently fifth in the Super League, were dispatched in a classic contest that for home fans really was the stuff of fairytales. Rovers have long declared their ambition of joining the elite and a 17-match undefeated start to this season has underlined their credentials.

Here Wolves gave them the stage and the opportunity to show off their full potential and they seized the chance, setting a new club-record winning run as they did.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league St Helens 56-10 Catalans Dragons St Helens 56-10 Catalans Dragons<p>St Helens eased into their sixth successive Challenge Cup semi-final, with Sean Long providing another virtuoso performance in their 56-10 win over Catalans Dragons. </p><p>Long scored one first-half try and created three others, before being rested by coach Daniel Anderson for the final quarter ahead of Thursday's meeting with Hull. "I thought Longy was easily our sharpest, but again our front row provided enough impetus and enough dents in the opposition defence for us to score points," Anderson said. Saints never looked in danger despite Stacey Jones's early try for the French, which saw them lead 6-4 after 20 minutes.

</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Leeds 36 - 18 Harlequins Leeds 36 - 18 Harlequins<p>The Leeds assistant coach Brian McDermott is still very much a rookie in the coaching stakes but he made a tactical move that would have impressed his peers and which turned this tense cup-tie the Rhinos' way.</p><p>McDermott, taking charge while the head coach Tony Smith recovers in hospital from a gastric illness, introduced the giant Kiwi forward Ali Lauitiiti from the bench on 49 minutes with Harlequins in the ascendancy. The visitors, trailing 12-0 at half-time, had started the second half with a 40-metre try by Luke Dorn and when Michael Worrincy crashed over three minutes after Lauitiiti's introduction, they were only two points adrift.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Rovers reward Morgan <p>Justin Morgan aims to become a surprise Challenge Cup semi-finalist for the second successive year tomorrow boosted by an extension to his contract as the Hull Kingston Rovers coach.

</p><p>The 30-year-old Australian led Toulouse to the last four last season and has now signed up until the end of 2008, an indication both of Rovers' faith in him and his belief in their potential to become a Super League club. They are currently top of National League One after 17 consecutive victories, the club's best ever start to a season, but their credentials will receive a much stiffer test in the first of tomorrow's televised quarter-finals against Warrington, for whom Chris Bridge returns after an ankle injury. </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Hull KR reach the last eight <p><strong>Hull Kingston Rovers</strong> will be the only non-Super League club in the last eight of the Powergen Challenge Cup after extending their club record of wins at the start of a season to 16 with a 44-12 victory over <strong>Featherstone Rovers</strong> yesterday.

The National League promotion favourites, whose coach Justin Morgan guided Toulouse to the cup semi-finals last season, scored eight tries to book their place in this morning's quarter-final draw, the first time the Robins have reached this stage of the competition since 1998.</p><p>Damien Couturier, the France centre who followed Morgan from Toulouse to east Hull after playing in last year's last-four defeat by Leeds, made a surprise return from a knee injury and kicked three goals.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Challenge Cup: St Helens 42 - 18 Bradford St Helens 42 - 18 Bradford<p>St Helens moved into the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup with an emphatic victory over Bradford who were completely outplayed. Heavy conditions and driving rain were thought to favour the Bulls, but the Saints dominated from the kick-off and the visitors never looked like breaking the 26-year cup hoodoo against them.</p><p>St Helens got off to a perfect start with a try after 90 seconds. A penalty put them deep into Bradford territory and Keiron Cunningham bulldozed his way over the line from dummy-half.

Jamie Lyon landed the conversion from the touchline and the home side continued to have the better of the play as the Bulls regularly coughed up possession.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Rugby league: Widnes 14 - 4 Castleford Widnes 14 - 4 Castleford<p>Widnes gained some form of revenge for losing their Super League place to Castleford through a stirring Challenge Cup win. With their impressive full-back David Peachey providing the kind of contribution to be expected from a former Australian international, the Vikings ground out victory in a captivating contest.</p><p>The Tigers went into the game shorn of eight first-team players and with their coach Terry Matterson in Australia for personal reasons.

Pitted against a Widnes team predominantly full-time in National League One and with a wealth of Super League experience in their ranks, Castleford were always going to find it difficult.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Challenge Cup: Hull 12 - 23 Bradford Hull 12 - 23 Bradford<p>Hull, the challenge cup holders, were unceremoniously dumped out of this year's competition, falling at the first hurdle in a bruising encounter with the reigning Super League champions Bradford. This fourth-round tie was played in the kind of conditions reminiscent of the old winter era, but Hull, who are having a dreadful time in the league, couldn't produce the kind of magic that saw them overcome Bradford and St Helens before beating Leeds and lifting the trophy at the Millennium Stadium last August.</p><p>The first tryscoring opportunity fell to Hull in the opening minute when they moved the ball smartly to the left, but young wing Kirk Dixon couldn't take Sid Domic's pass with the line at his mercy.

Bradford moved upfield and won a penalty that Paul Deacon kicked and for the next 15 minutes they dominated play.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Trinity look to Rooney <p>Given his surname, there has been a temptation to overhype Jamie Rooney's potential. But on the evidence of the 17 points he scored for Wakefield against Warrington last Sunday, the 26-year-old Trinity stand-off is ready to earn the headlines that will inevitably come his way if he puts the boot into Wigan tomorrow.</p><p>A televised Challenge Cup fourth-round tie represents the highest-profile match of Rooney's career, given the level of interest in Wigan's spectacular demise. "It is a big game and a big chance for us," he agrees. "They're in the same boat as us - they've not started the Super League too well.

We want to put things right, and what better chance than knocking Wigan out of the cup?"</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Rugby league Oldham RLFC » News » 2011 Carnegie Challenge Cup Final 2011 Carnegie Challenge Cup Final Date published: Friday, August 19, 2011 LEEDS RHINOS v WIGAN WARRIORS (Saturday 27 August, 2.30pm, BBC1) (at Wembley Stadium) This year’s Wembley showpiece sees the two clubs with the most Challenge Cup Final appearances meet head on. WIGAN WARRIORS make their record-extending 29th Challenge Cup Final appearance (the club has won the Challenge Cup a record number of 17 times), whilst LEEDS RHINOS appear in their 22nd Cup Final (11 wins). The Rhinos move one ahead of the club with the third most appearances, St Helens, who have contested 21 Challenge Cup Finals (winning 12).

Leeds have never beaten Wigan in a major final, having previously lost the following games: 1983 John Player Trophy (15-4, at Elland Road) 1994 Challenge Cup (26-16, at Wembley) 1995 Challenge Cup (30-10, at Wembley) 1995 Premiership Final (69-12, at Old Trafford) 1998 Super League Grand Final (10-4, at Old Trafford) Wigan will make their first appearance at the new Wembley Stadium, having previously won a record 15 of 22 Finals at the old stadium, including a record eight wins in a row between 1988 and 1995. Leeds return to the scene of 2010’s 30-6 Final defeat to Warrington Wolves, their only previous visit to the new stadium. The club were previously successful in six of 11 Wembley finals, including winning the last showpiece at the old stadium in 1999.

Leeds Rhinos – previous Challenge Cup Finals: 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) (at Wembley Stadium) 2005 Lost (v Hull, 25-24) (at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff) 2003 Lost (v Bradford, 22-20) (at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff) 2000 Lost (v Bradford, 24-18) (at Murrayfield, Edinburgh) 1999 Won (v London Broncos, 52-16) (at Wembley Stadium) 1995 Lost (v Wigan, 30-10) (at Wembley Stadium) 1994 Lost (v Wigan, 26-16) (at Wembley Stadium) 1978 Won (v St Helens, 14-12) (at Wembley Stadium) 1977 Won (v Widnes, 16-7) (at Wembley Stadium) 1972 Lost (v St Helens, 16-13) (at Wembley

 Stadium) 1971 Lost (v Leigh, 24-7) (at Wembley Stadium) 1968 Won (v Wakefield, 11-10) (at Wembley Stadium) 1957 Won (v Barrow, 9-7) (at Wembley Stadium) 1947 Lost (v Bradford, 8-4) (at Wembley Stadium) 1943 Lost (v Dewsbury, 16-15 – aggregate score after two legs) 1942 Won (v Halifax, 15-10) (at Odsal Stadium, Bradford) 1941 Won (v Halifax, 19-2) (at Odsal Stadium, Bradford) 1936 Won (v Warrington, 18-2) (at Wembley Stadium) 1932 Won (v Swinton, 11-8) (at Central Park, Wigan) 1923 Won (v Hull, 28-3) (at Belle Vue, Wakefield) 1910 Won (v Hull, 

26-12 – replay after 7-7 draw) (both at Fartown, Huddersfield) Wigan Warriors – previous Challenge Cup Finals: 2004 Lost (v St Helens, 32-16) (at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff) 2002 Won (v St Helens, 21-12) (at Murrayfield, Edinburgh) 1998 Lost (v Sheffield Eagles, 17-8) (at Wembley Stadium) 1995 Won (v Leeds, 30-10) (at Wembley Stadium) 1994 Won (v Leeds, 26-16) (at Wembley Stadium) 1993 Won (v Widnes, 20-14) (at Wembley Stadium) 1992 Won (v Castleford, 28-12) (at Wembley Stadium) 1991 Won (v St Helens, 13-8) (at Wembley Stadium) 1990 Won (v Warrington, 36-14) (at W

embley Stadium) 1989 Won (v St Helens, 27-0) (at Wembley Stadium) 1988 Won (v Halifax, 32-12) (at Wembley Stadium) 1985 Won (v Hull, 28-24) (at Wembley Stadium) 1984 Lost (v Widnes, 19-6) (at Wembley Stadium) 1970 Lost (v Castleford, 7-2) (at Wembley Stadium) 1966 Lost (v St Helens, 21-2) (at Wembley Stadium) 1965 Won (v Hunslet, 20-16) (at Wembley Stadium) 1963 Lost (v Wakefield, 25-10) (at Wembley Stadium) 1961 Lost (v St Helens, 12-6) (at Wembley Stadium) 1959 Won (v Hull, 30-13) (at Wembley Stadium) 1958 Won (

v Workington, 13-9) (at Wembley Stadium) 1951 Won (v Barrow, 10-0) (at Wembley Stadium) 1948 Won (v Bradford, 8-3) (at Wembley Stadium) 1946 Lost (v Wakefield, 13-12) (at Wembley Stadium) 1944 Lost (v Bradford, 8-3 – aggregate score after two legs) 1929 Won (v Dewsbury, 13-2) (at Wembley Stadium) 1924 Won (v Oldham, 21-4) (at The Athletic Ground, Rochdale) 1920 Lost (v Huddersfield, 21-10) (at Headingley, Leeds) 1911 Lost (v Broughton Rangers, 4-0) (at Weaste, Salford) Previous Challenge Cup meetings: 2010 (Quarter-final) Leeds 12 Wigan 10 2008 (Quarter-final) Leeds 23 Wigan 16

 2007 (Round 5) Leeds 18 Wigan 22 1999 (Round 4) Leeds 28 Wigan 18 1995 (Final) Leeds 10 Wigan 30 (at Wembley Stadium) 1994 (Final) Leeds 16 Wigan 26 (at Wembley Stadium) 1988 (Round 2) Wigan 30 Leeds 14 1973 (Round 1) Leeds 11 Wigan 25 1968 (Semi-Final) Leeds 25 Wigan 4 (at Station Road, Swinton) 1966 (Semi-final) Leeds 2 Wigan 7 (at Fartown, Huddersfield) 1963 (Round 2) Wigan 20 Leeds 11 1961 (Round 1) Leeds 5 Wigan 5 1961 (Round 1, Replay) Wigan 32 Leeds 7 1960 (Round 2) Wigan 14 Leeds 11 1

957 (Round 1) Leeds 13 Wigan 11 1948 (Round 2) Wigan 17 Leeds 3 1947 (Quarter Final) Wigan 0 Leeds 5 1944 (Semi-final, 1st leg) Leeds 10 Wigan 5 1944 (Semi-final, 2nd leg) Wigan 11 Leeds 4 1938 (Round 1) Leeds 27 Wigan 4 1927 (Round 2) Leeds 13 Wigan 3 1926 (Round 2) Leeds 17 Wigan 10 1925 (Round 2) Leeds 2 Wigan 0 1913 (Round 1) Wigan 38 Leeds 0 1911 (Quarter-final) Leeds 4 Wigan 13 1899 (Round 2) Leeds 3 Wigan 0 2011 meetings: Wigan 26, Leeds 24 (SLR20, 1/7/11) Leeds 22

, Wigan 22 (SLR8, 1/4/11) ROUTES TO THE FINAL Wigan Warriors 52, Barrow Raiders 0 Tries: Leuluai 2, Coley, Carmont, Deacon, S Tomkins 2, O’Loughlin, Richards; Goals: Richards 8 ROUND 5 (22/5/11) Bradford Bulls 22, Wigan Warriors 26 Tries: Richards 2, S Tomkins, Finch, Farrell; Goals: Richards 3 QUARTER-FINAL (23/7/11) Warrington Wolves 24, Wigan Warriors 44 Tries: Hansen, S Tomkins, Coley, Richards 2, Charnley 2, O’Loughlin; Goals: Richards 6 SEMI-FINAL (6/8/11) St Helens 12, Wigan Warriors 18 Tries: Carmont, Charnley, S Tomkins; Goals: Richards 3 (at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington) Of the current Leeds squad, only Jamie Peacock has previously won a Challenge Cup – but not for the Rh

inos.

Peacock previously won the Cup with Bradford in 2000 and 2003. Peacock is set to play his first Challenge Cup Final for Leeds (having missed the 2010 defeat to Warrington due to injury), and it will also be his first appearance at Wembley Stadium – having previously played in Finals at Murrayfield (2000), Twickenham (2001) and Cardiff (2003). No player in the current Leeds squad played at the old Wembley Stadium. Captain Kevin Sinfield only made one appearance in the Rhinos’ successful 1999 Cup run – in the Quarter Final against Widnes Vikings. Sinfield is the only player in either of the competing teams to have previously won the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match – in 2005’s 25-24 defeat to Hull FC at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Leeds have used 24 players in this season’s Challenge Cup campaign – with Carl Ablett, Danny Buderus, Rob Burrow, Chris Clarkson, Brett Delaney, Ryan Hall, Ian Kirke, Kylie Leuluai, Jamie Peacock and Kevin Sinfield playing in every round.

Buderus, Delaney, Hall, Leuluai and Sinfield also played in every round in the Rhinos’ run to the 2010 Challenge Cup Final.

Leeds Rhinos – Challenge Cup Final appearances Carl Ablett 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Ryan Bailey 2003 Lost (v Bradford, 22-20) 2005 Lost (v Hull, 25-24) 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Danny Buderus 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Rob Burrow 2003 Lost (v Bradford, 22-20) 2005 Lost (v Hull, 25-24) 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Chris Clarkson 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Brett Delaney 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Ryan Hall 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Jamie Jones-Buchanan 2005 Lost (v Hull, 25-24) 2010 Lost (v Warrington,

 30-6) Ian Kirke 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Ali Lauitiiti 2005 Lost (v Hull, 25-24) Kylie Leuluai 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Danny McGuire 2005 Lost (v Hull, 25-24) 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Jamie Peacock 2000 Won (v Leeds, 24-18) 2001 Lost (v St Helens, 13-6) 2003 Won (v Leeds, 22-20) (all for Bradford Bulls) 2003 Lost (v Bradford, 22-20) 2005 Lost (v Hull, 25-24) 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Lee Smith 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 30-6) Brent Webb 2010 Lost (v Warrington, 

30-6) Paul Deacon and Stuart Fielden (out for the season injured) are the only members of the Wigan squad to previously win a Challenge Cup, both whilst with Bradford.

Deacon was in the 2003 Bulls side that beat Leeds at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. All 17 of Wigan’s team for 2011’s Challenge Cup Final will be making their first Wembley appearance. Gareth Hock and Sean O’Loughlin are the only other members of the Wigan squad who have previous Challenge Cup Final experience – both played in the Warriors’ 32-16 defeat to St Helens in Cardiff in 2004. O’Loughlin did not feature in Wigan’s 2002 Cup run, which culminated in victory at Murrayfield against St Helens. Wigan have used 22 players in this season’s Challenge Cup campaign – with Josh Charnley, Andy Coley, Paul Deacon, Brett Finch, Ryan Hoffman, Thomas Leuluai, Jeff Lima, Michael McIlorum, Sean O’Loughlin, Pat Richards, Joel Tomkins and Sam Tomkins playing in every round.

Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup Final appearances Paul Deacon 2001 Lost (v St Helens, 13-6) 2003 Won (v Leeds, 22-20) (both for Bradford Bulls) 2004 Lost (v St Helens, 32-16) Sean O’Loughlin 2004 Lost (v St Helens, 32-16) LANCE TODD TROPHY 3 Sean Long (St Helens): 2001, 2004, 2006 Youngest and oldest PETER RAMSDEN of Huddersfield is the youngest player to win the Lance Todd Trophy, receiving it on his 19th birthday after scoring two tries in the 15-10 defeat of St Helens in 1953. FRANK WHITCOMBE is the oldest winner, the Bradford Northern prop being 29 days short of his 35th birthday in 1948.. He became the first player of a losing side to receive the award after an 8-3 defeat to Wigan.

YOUNGEST AND OLDEST FINALIST FRANCIS CUMMINS of Leeds (17 years 200 days) became the youngest player to appear in a Challenge Cup Final when he played on the wing and scored a try in the defeat against Wigan in 1994. The youngest winner was ANDY FARRELL (17 years 11 months), playing substitute for Wigan when they beat Widnes in 1993. The oldest player to appear in a Cup Final was Workington Town full back GUS RISMAN, who was 41 years 29 days when he led his side to victory over Featherstone Rovers in 1952. DISMISSALS RICHARD EYRES of Widnes was the last player to be sent off in a Challenge Cup Final, against Wigan at Wembley in 1993. The referee was Russell Smith. The sin-bin was introduced in January 1983 and was occupied in a Cup Final for the first time that year when Hull’s Paul Rose was despatched by referee Robin Whitfield. Later in the game Featherstone Rovers’ Terry Hudson was also sent to the sin bin.

The last player to be sent to the sin-bin in a final was SHANE RIGON of Bradford Bulls in the 2001 Final against St Helens at Twickenham, by Russell Smith.

CHALLENGE CUP FINAL RECORDS 17 wins in 28 finals by Wigan Wembley: 15 wins in 22 finals by Wigan Highest score Leeds Rhinos 52 London Broncos 16 (at Wembley Stadium, 1999) (also widest margin) Most tries by a team 9 Huddersfield (v St Helens, 37-3) (at Watersheddings, Oldham, 1915) 9 Leeds Rhinos (v London Broncos, 52-16) (at Wembley Stadium, 1999) Most points by a losing team Bradford Bulls 32 St Helens 40 (at Wembley Stadium, 1996) (also record aggregate of points – 72) Most successful fightback St Helens overcame the biggest deficit of 14 points to win a Final when they beat Bradford Bulls 40-32 at Wembley in 1996. The Saints trailed 26-12 from the 53rd to the 57th minute.

Biggest attendance 102,569 Halifax v Warrington (1954 replay at Odsal Stadium, Bradford) Wembley: 99,801 Hull v Wigan (1985) Most tries by a player 4 Leroy Rivett (Leeds Rhinos) in the 52-16 defeat of London Broncos at Wembley in 1999. Players to have scored three tries: Bob Wilson (Broughton Rangers, v Salford) (1902) Stan Moorhouse (Huddersfield, v Warrington) (1913) Tom Holliday (Oldham, v Swinton) (1927) Robbie Paul (Bradford Bulls, v St Helens) (1996) Chris Hicks (Warrington Wolves, v Leeds Rhinos) (2010) Most goals by a player 8 Cyril Kellett (Featherstone Rovers) in the 33-14 defeat of Bradford Northern at Wembley in 1973.

8 Iestyn Harris (Leeds Rhinos) in the 52-16 defeat of London Broncos at Wembley in 1999. Most points by a player 20 Neil Fox (2 tries, 7 goals) in Wakefield Trinity’s 38-5 defeat of Hull at Wembley in 1960. 20 Iestyn Harris (1 try, 8 goals) in Leeds Rhinos’ 52-16 defeat of London Broncos at Wembley in 1999. Most appearances 11 Shaun Edwards (Wigan 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995; London Broncos 1999) – all at Wembley.

Most wins 9 Shaun Edwards – as above, except loser in 1984 and 1999 CARNEGIE CHALLENGE CUP LEADING SCORERS Tries 1 = Steve Tyrer (Widnes Vikings) 6 Jon Presley (York City Knights) 6 3 = Jordan Turner (Hull FC) 5 Lee Briers (Warrington Wolves) 5 Pat Richards (Wigan Warriors) 5 Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors) 5 Goals 1 = Lee Briers (Warrington Wolves) 28 Jamie Foster (St Helens) 28 3 Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos) 21 4 = Pat Richards (Wigan Warriors) 20 Chris Thorman (York City Knights) 20 Points

Question: Which St Helens player is the only man to win the Lance Todd trophy (awarded to the man of the match in the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final) three times?
Answer: Sean Long